Gate.



No. 835,987. PATENTED Nov. 13, 1906.

A. J. SHROPE.

GATE.

APPLIOATION FILED Mums. 190s.

ALBERT J. SHROPE, OF

BHOADS,

MEOHANICSVILLE, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO H. A.

OF MEOHANIOSVILLE, IOWA.

GATE.

Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1906.

Application filed January 19, 1906- Serial No. 296,903.

T0 all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. SHROPE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Mechanicsville, in the county of Cedar and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gates, of which the Jollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to gates adapted to be opened and closed without getting out of the vehicle passing through the gateway, and has for its object to produce a simple and inexpensive gate capable of easy operation and adjustment to diiferent heights.

The nature of the invention will clearly appear from the description and claims following, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a gate embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail showing the hinge connection of the upper gate-bar.

In the drawings, A designates the latchpost for the gate when closed, provided with a latch-hook B. O is the latch-post for the gate when open, having a similar latch-hook D. Practically in line with the latter post is the hinge-post E and the outstanding posts F F to carry the opening and closing pulls to be described presently.

The gate has a series of longitudinal bars G, G, and G2, the upper and lower ones of which take the hinge-rod H, suitably bracketed to the post E. The upper bar is slotted at g, so as to permit the gate to tilt up and down a limited distance, as it does in opening and closing. The longitudinal bars are connected by cross-bars I. The sag of the gate is prevented by truss-wires J, running from near the bottom of the free end to the opening and closing lever, the wires in their course passing over the hooked ends of a stirrup K, movable on the top rail of the gate. It will be evident that by sliding this stirrup toward the free end of the gate this end will be elevated, thus correcting any natural sag in the gate. In mortises near the free ends of the horizontal bars is mounted the latch-bar L, pivoted at Z. A spring M tends to latch the bar and to unlatch it is connected by pull-wires N and N with the shift-lever O. This lever has an offset foot O to which the latch-wires N connect near the ends. The foot connects centrally, as by a chain J, with the truss-wires J. On

the opposite side of the foot a pair of chains P connect about midway between the trusswire and the latch-pull connections and converge to a connection with the hinge-rod H, as by a ring P. It will now be seen that the foot of the shift-lever is really hung between the hinge-chains on the one side and the trusswires and latch-wire on the other side. To avoid undue friction, the top rail of the gate is provided with a wear-plate G3, onv which the Jfoot of the shift-lever rests. The lever at about two-thirds its height is provided with a bracket O2, engaging the hinge-rod. Below this is a lateral arm Q, and at the top is an oppositely extending arm Q. To these arms are attached suitable cords, wires, or cables R, passing 'over suitable sheaves S, secured to the outposts F F, the pull-cords having suitable handles or pulls T, as shown.

The gate may be elevated or depressed bodily, so as to clear snow or other obstructions, by means of an adjusting device. (Shown in Fig. l The hinge-post E, which Jfor economy is preferably of comparatively light material, secured to the ground-post E, and suitably braced at U, is notched at E2. Engaging any one of these notches is aplateV, connected at one end with the bottom rail of the gate by a chainW. The plate slides freely on the rod when relieved of the weight of the gate, but normally grips the rod so as to prevent its'slipping down. To elevate or depress the gate, it is raised a little to release this grip, the plate turned and set in engagement with another notch, and the gate then released.

It will be seen that the connections of the shift-lever are such that a pull to open the gate draws back the latch-bar and at the same time slightly elevates the free end of the gate, the slot in the upper rail permitting the latter movement, as already described. This depending weight oi the gate acts upon the shift-lever and tends to restore it to normal position 5 otherwise it would be necessary for the latch-bar spring alone to perform this duty. To overcome the friction of the part-s and any possibility of sticking in the pulln cords or otherwise, the latch-spring would need to be much stronger than is required for its simple operation of closing the latch and make the latching of the gate more difficult, especially in the open position.

The inclined position of the shift-lever IOO both laterally and longitudinally tends to favor the operator, as the shaft of the lever itself, irrespective of the lateral arms, is a lever the fulcrums of which are at its points of connection with the hinge-rod chains.

To prevent animals from nosing the latch open, the free end of the gate is provided with a guard-strip X. A netting of woven wire Y or the like may serve to close the openings in the gate against animals in whole or in part.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*

l. The combination of a gate-frame substantially as described, having a pivoted latch-bar at its free end, an inclined shift-lever mounted at the top and opposite end of the gate, and having a lateral foot flexibly connected with the hinge-rod on which the gate swings, a gate-supporting post and hinge-rod, oppositely-extending arms on the shift-lever and pull-cords extending in opposite directions therefrom, and a connection of said lever-foot with the latch-bar, whereby the gate maybe opened when at a distance therefrom,

l 2. The combination in a gate having a slotted upper hinge connection, and a latchbar at its opposite end, of an inclined shiftlever having a lateral foot and oppositelyextending pull-levers, a hinge-rod on which the gate swings, a central connection of the foot with the latch, truss-rods connecting with. the free end of the gate and said foot near its ends, and chains extending from i nearly the same points on the foot to the hinge-rod.

3. The combination in a gate, of a hingepost having an oifstanding hinge-rod., a gate mounted to turn thereon, a notched strip attached to the post, a plate adapted to slide on the hinge-rod, a chain connecting one end of said plate with the gate, the other end of the plate being adapted to enter any one of the notches, and means for opening and closing the gate, substantially as described.

' In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT J. sHRoPE.

Witnesses:

DOUGLAS MCKIBBEN, En CoNNER. 

